Methane-rich syngas production by gasification of thermoset waste plastics

Thermoset waste plastics from a cable materials company have been processed using pyrolysis/gasification in a fixed-bed steel reactor with cyclone separation unit to produce fuel gas mixture consisting primarily of H2, CH4, and CO. Initially, samples were pyrolysed at 600 °C and processed for gasification through 0.05 L min−1 dry air at 750 °C. Following samples were conducted under direct gasification conditions at dry air flows varying 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 L min−1 at 750 °C. Transformation of solid residual, and liquid and gas products which were obtained at the end of the thermal processes conducted under varying conditions was monitored. Volume percentages of H2, CH4, and CO gases within the produced gas were instantly measured via continuous gas analyser. It was determined that thermoset plastic waste which can remain in the environment without disintegration decreases in mass by 94 % and solid forms being easy to control occur at the end of heat treatment. Within the scope of waste-to-energy, 3100 kcal m−3 medium calorific value gas was produced through direct gasification 750 °C and optimum air volume was 0.05 L min−1. Data management and statistical analysis were carried out with SPSS software. Thermochemical processing of waste plastic from waste wire and cable materials in a fixed-bed steel reactor with a cyclone separator achieved promising results to produce synthetic fuel gas.